초복(Chobok) : The beginning of hot season

In Korea, there are three days means beginning, middle, and end of hot season. We calls it 3복(三伏).








The beginning of hot season : 초복(Chobok)
The middle of hot season : 중복(Jungbok)
The end of hot season : 말복(Malbok)











So?














초복(Chobok) is usually on from11th July to 19th July, and last friday, 18th July, was 초복 this year.

Then what do Korean people do on 초복?

We eat healthy food..

Especially we eat dog or Chicken!

As you might know, Korean eat dog, but NOT EVERYONE.

At least, I can't eat dog. :D...

I think usually guys, especially old guys eat dogs. I'm not sure about young people, but I most of my friends can't eat dogs.

p.s: Actually I was thinking about telling you about dog after posting, and one thing I want to tell you is : there is edible dogs. We don't eat any dog. Men of old times used to eat dog, but it's not common anymore as much as it was.

Instead of Friday, I ate one of Korean chicken dish with my family on Sunday.

It was 삼계탕(samgyetang).

I think most of people eat 삼계탕 on one of bok days.

I will tell you how to make it, and probably you can try it on 중복!

Firstly, prepare chickens. (or chicken.)

Clean it, and don't forget to clean the inside. X)

Of course, trim it when it's necessary.

I used kalopanax and angelica root

but if you don't have them, you can easily get kind of these things. 

(it's tea bag for 삼계탕)

I've seen some people make it without them though.

Yeah, here we go!

Ah, you need toothpicks!!

Put fresh ginseng (or ginseng) into the chicken

and add glutinous rice

jujube

and garlics into the chicken.

 and then, adjust the chicken

Stick toothpicks to make it closed.

Tada!

Add enough water

onion

and green onions

We are going to boil it more than 40 minutes.

When it's boiling, there are few things you should do.

1. Skim off the foam when the soup boils.

2. After that add kalopanax and angelica root. (or tea-bag)

3. When the chicken is almost cooked, add jujube and garlic.

Almost 40 minutes later..

It's done!

(Sorry, I actually forgot to take pictures when I opened it. :o)

Here's the chicken will make you alright from hot weather!! >:D

Tear it, and you can see the inside!

Ta-da!

The glutinous rice is cooked very well! :)

When you it, enjoy it with salt.

You can make 닭죽(Dak-juk:  Chicken Rice Porridge) with the liquid and glutinous rice.

Yummy~

What about try it on 중복? 

It's on 28th July!